Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Belarus

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Belarus regarding Ihar Tsikhanyuk.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK has made no direct representation specifically on behalf of Mr Tsikhanyuk. We are careful not to do so in such sensitive cases unless we have the consent of those concerned. Our Embassy in Minsk supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Belarus where possible. Our Embassy in Minsk also support events to raise awareness of LGBT issues. The UK raises Belarus’s human rights record in meetings with Belarusian ministers and officials.The UK raised the issue of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the UK advanced questions to the Belarus Universal Periodic Review this year.

Turkey

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the present state of relations between the United Kingdom and Turkey.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK and Turkey enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, underpinned by the 2010 Strategic Partnership agreement. Turkey is a key regional power, a NATO ally and a valued security partner. The UK remains a strong supporter of Turkey’s EU accession process. We look forward to continuing to develop relations with a new Turkish government following the parliamentary elections of 7 June.

Azerbaijan: Human Rights

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK is concerned about the shrinking space for civil society and freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, including the selective application of the rule of law. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a number of statements expressing concern, most recently on 17 and 23 April 2015, following the sentencing of human rights defender, Rasul Jafarov, and human rights lawyer, Intigam Aliyev. We consistently raise our concerns both bilaterally and in international organisations such as the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe and the UN. Our Ambassador in Baku raised concerns about freedom of the media in a statement on 17 June about the opening ceremony of the European Games in Baku.

Cambodia: Freedom of Association

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Cambodia regarding the draft law on non-governmental organisations currently before the Cambodian Parliament, which restricts freedom of association.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We regularly raise human rights concerns with the government of Cambodia and encouraged them to carry out a full consultation before publishing the draft law on non-governmental organisations. EU Ambassadors have also made their views known to the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and our Ambassador in Phnom Penh called on the Council of Ministers’ Spokesman, who is tasked with managing the law’s passage. On 5 June, a joint letter from member states of the Community of Democracies Working Group on Enabling and Protecting Civil Society, and the Stand with Civil Society initiative, was handed to the Cambodian government. The letter called for a meaningful public consultation and urged the Cambodian government to ensure the legislation does not constrain basic freedoms of speech, association and peaceful assembly, in line with Cambodia’s international obligations.

Burma: Elections

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the forthcoming elections in Burma can be free and fair, in the light of the withdrawal of temporary voting rights given to Rohingya Muslims and the fact that the military is allocated one quarter of seats.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Burma's elections in November are a milestone in its transition to democracy, and we have consistently called for democratic, inclusive, credible and transparent elections in which all the people of Burma, including persons belonging to minorities, can fully exercise their political rights and cast their vote. This was reiterated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on 22 June. However, there are significant challenges in holding Burma’s first credible elections in decades. The withdrawal of temporary residence cards for Rohingya Muslims is a major concern. We have also long made clear that the military should step back from politics. In assessing the overall standard of the election, we will look at these and a range of other factors, including the assessments of both local and international observers on the ground at the time. The UK has supported the EU in sending an Election Observation Mission to observe the elections.

North Korea: Overseas Aid

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which locations in North Korea the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea allows the United Kingdom to implement or fund projects.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: There is no formal agreement between the UK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) regarding project activity. The UK supports projects delivered by a range of international non-governmental organisations who work in co-ordination with the DPRK government. In recent years, UK funding has contributed to projects taking place in: Pyongyang; North Hwanghae Province; North Pyongyan Province; and Kangwon Province.

North Korea: Diplomatic Relations

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the British Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is allowed to travel freely within that country.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) permits travel by diplomatic missions and international organisations, including our Embassy, to the following areas of the country: Pyongyang; Sinanju; Wonsan; Mount Kumgang; Sariwon; Songrim; Kwail County; and Haeju. Any diplomatic mission or international organisation wishing to undertake travel is required to notify the DPRK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs beforehand.

Northern Ireland Office

Welfare State: Northern Ireland

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of welfare reform not being agreed in Northern Ireland.

Lord Dunlop: The failure to implement welfare reform puts the entire Stormont House Agreement at risk, including the steps it contains to pave the way for a more stable and prosperous Northern Ireland and to help deal with the past.

Attorney General

Budgets: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought legal advice or consulted the Law Officers regarding the budget passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 15 June.

Lord Keen of Elie: The Government is monitoring developments in relation to the finances of the Northern Ireland Executive closely. By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that the Law Officers may or may not have advised or have been requested to advise on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside government.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Cole Commission on Exports

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Cole Commission on Exports An Action Plan from business.

Lord Maude of Horsham: The Government welcomes this report and the serious work by members of the Cole Commission. It contains much invaluable analysis and we will consider its recommendations very carefully.

Department for International Development

Burma: Internally Displaced People

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address the continuing humanitarian situation for internally displaced people in Kachin state, Burma.

Baroness Verma: Since 2011 we have committed over £17m in humanitarian funding in Kachin and Northern Shan states in Burma which includes food and cash, health services, and water and sanitation to sites for internally displaced people (IDP). We have also provided £5m of humanitarian health programming. We also fund UN agencies for coordination and capacity building around gender based violence, camp management and water and sanitation. Minister of State Rt. Hon. Desmond Swayne TD MP visited Kachin in August 2014 and met with IDPs and camp officials to discuss their situation. DFID’s head of office visited Kachin in June 2015, visiting IDP camps around Laiza and discussing IDP issues with the Kachin Chief Minister.

Burma: Internally Displaced People

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that food rations for internally displaced peoples in Kachin state, Burma, are not cut.

Baroness Verma: Since 2011 we have committed over £17m in humanitarian funding in Kachin and Northern Shan states in Burma which includes support for food and cash. We are also working with the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) to investigate development work on livelihoods for those displaced by conflict in Kachin State Burma.

Islamic State

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether aid to victims of ISIS qualifies as part of the ring-fenced overseas aid budget; and what capacity the Department for International Development has to support directly the victims of ISIS.

Baroness Verma: All UK aid spend meets the OECD Official Development Assistance (ODA) Reporting Directives, including that support provided to those affected by ISIL. To date, the UK has pledged £800 million to support vulnerable people in Syria and the region affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria, including those displaced by ISIL. In Iraq, DFID has provided £59.5 million of humanitarian assistance, as a direct consequence of ISIL’s atrocities. Access to areas held by ISIL is however extremely limited and the majority of UK Aid in Iraq is supporting those who have been displaced by ISIL’s brutality. We continue to call on all sides to the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and ensure free, unimpeded access for neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies to provide vital assistance to all those in need.

Department for Education

Teachers: Training

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of primary school teachers in England have been professionally trained through recognised three-year teacher training courses, and what percentage through a one-year Postgraduate Course in Education; and how those percentages have changed since 2005.

Lord Nash: The department does not hold data on the percentage of primary teachers professionally trained through recognised three-year teacher training courses or one-year postgraduate courses. The department does hold information on primary trainee teachers who were awarded qualified teacher status (QTS).   In the 2012 to 2013 academic year, 28% of those awarded QTS in England trained through an undergraduate programme. 72% trained through a postgraduate programme. This has changed from 37% and 63% respectively in the 2004 to 2005 academic year.   Undergraduate courses are typically three or four years. Postgraduate courses are typically for one year and the vast major lead to PGCE.   Number of primary trainees gaining QTS who were on undergraduate coursesNumber of primary trainees gaining QTS who were on postgraduate courses Total number of primary trainees gaining QTS Percentage primary trainees gaining QTS who were on undergraduate coursesPercentage of primary trainees gaining QTS who were on postgraduate courses 2004/054,5507,77412,32437%63%2005/064,6527,54212,19438%62%2006/075,0917,39712,48841%59%2007/085,3357,91613,25140%60%2008/095,60910,13515,74436%64%2009/105,21210,45415,66633%67%2010/115,09310,70115,79432%68%2011/125,38112,10117,48231%69%2012/135,11112,93418,04528%72%1) Data excludes Teach First and Assessment Only  2) Data includes Employment Based Teacher Training (EBITT)  3) Data for 2013/13 includes School Direct Trainees

Ministry of Justice

European Court of Human Rights: Legal Costs

Baroness Seccombe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made or are aware of any assessment of the average cost of taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights; who bears those costs; and in what proportion of cases costs are incurred by (1) private concerns, and (2) the United Kingdom public purse.

Lord Faulks: The applicant has to pay the costs of making the application. However if the Court finds a violation against a state, it can then make an award of costs against the state as part of its judgment. The costs to the Government vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case. Legal aid is not available from the UK for an application to the European Court of Human Rights. However, the European Court has its own legal aid scheme, to which the UK contributes via its national contribution to the costs of Court.

Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to publish the action plan agreed by the Youth Justice Board and G4S for improvements at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre following the OFSTED inspection in February 2015.

Lord Faulks: The safety and welfare of young people in custody is vital and the Ministry of Justice takes the issues raised in the recent Rainsbrook inspection report extremely seriously. We have taken immediate action to make sure these issues were being addressed by the operator. G4S’s action plan for Rainsbrook, which is agreed by the Youth Justice Board, is not a government document and such documents are not normally published.

Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children have been placed in Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre each week since February 2015.

Lord Faulks: The safety and welfare of young people in custody is vital and the Ministry of Justice takes the issues raised in the recent Rainsbrook inspection report extremely seriously. We have taken immediate action to make sure these issues were being addressed by the operator.The Youth Justice Board is responsible for placing all young people in a suitable secure establishment that can safely and effectively manage their individual needs and risks.Table 1 shows the number of new admissions into Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre (STC). Young people can be placed from the community as the result of a custodial remand or sentence being given by the courts, or can be transferred from another youth secure establishment. Table 1: Number of new placements (admissions) into Rainsbrook STC from the week commencing 2 February 2015 to the week commencing 27 April 2015Week commencingNumber of new placements (admissions)02/02/2015309/02/2015716/02/2015123/02/2015902/03/2015209/03/2015116/03/2015023/03/2015130/03/2015406/04/2015513/04/2015220/04/2015627/04/20157Total48 Notes:1. A young person can appear as a new admission more than once during the reporting period. This would account for those young people who are released and subsequently recalled to custody, remanded or sentenced on new matters.2. The information presented is based on unpublished operational data.3. The information comes from Youth Justice Board's eAsset database which is the booking system used to place young people into custody.These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Faulks on 11 June (HLWS22), which prisons had been misinterpreting overcrowding figures between 2008 and 2015.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Faulks on 11 June (HLWS22), what urgent steps have been taken to ensure that future figures will be subjected to rigorous quality control.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Faulks on 11 June (HLWS22), when and how it became apparent that some prisons had been misinterpreting overcrowding figures between 2008 and 2015.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Faulks on 11 June (HLWS22), whether erroneous figures on overcrowding have informed decisions by the Ministry of Justice; if so, which decisions; and whether those decisions will now be subject to review.

Lord Faulks: Further to my WMS of 11 June the errors in crowding figures began in 2008 – 2009, under the then Lord Chancellor Jack Straw. The following is a list of prisons whose previously published crowding figures required correction in respect of at least one monthly figure during the period 2008-09 to 2013-14 as a result of misinterpretation.  AylesburyBlundestonBrinsfordBristolBrixtonBullwood HallBureChannings WoodChelmsfordColdingleyDorchesterDovegateFoston HallFull SuttonGarthHighpointHollowayLeicesterLewesLindholmeLittleheyNew HallNorthumberlandParcParkhurst (part of Isle of Wight)PeterboroughPortlandReadingRisleyRye HillShrewsburySwinfen HallThamesideWandsworthWaylandWellingboroughWetherbyWhattonWormwood Scrubs  The National Offender Management Service has taken action to ensure that future figures will be subject to more rigorous quality assurance. This includes strengthening the monitoring guidance for establishments to address common errors of interpretation, and adding further automatic checks to the management information system to pick up anomalies between prisoner population, cell capacity and reported crowding. NOMS will also issue an instruction to Governors to make sure that staff are clear about the definition of crowding and their responsibilities to quality-assure the data they submit. The errors came to light as a result of an internal check of the crowding returns in addition to the processes already in place for validating data ahead of the end-of-year publication of outturns in the NOMS Annual Report. Decisions on the future size of the prison estate reflect the current and projected prison population. Therefore previously understated levels of crowding have not informed any capacity-based decisions made by the Ministry of Justice.

The Lord Chairman of Committees

Parliament: Asbestos

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask the Chairman of Committees what assessment has been made of the levels of asbestos throughout the Palace of Westminster and the parliamentary estate; what is the policy regarding disturbing it, leaving it in place, or removing it; and what advice has been taken about the dangers of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, to those involved in repair and construction work and those working in areas where asbestos has been removed or disturbed.

Lord Sewel: It is difficult to estimate the amount of asbestos that is present in the Palace of Westminster and on the parliamentary estate because asbestos materials of various types have been widely used (often concealed in ducts and voids, and buried in the fabric of the building) over the years. Before the dangers of asbestos were known it was used extensively in building works due to its strength and resistive properties. Extensive surveying has been undertaken to inform Parliament’s management of asbestos and robust controls are in place to cover checking for the presence of asbestos and the safe execution of works.Parliament’s Asbestos Management Plan complies with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and follows Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance. Risks associated with asbestos-containing materials are managed in line with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The plan is reviewed annually and has been independently audited.Each presence of asbestos is judged for removal or management in situ on its own merits, in line with best practice and HSE guidance. All staff in the Parliamentary Estates Directorate undergo mandatory training in asbestos management which provides information and advice about the dangers of asbestos, including asbestos-related diseases. Contractors and their staff are also required to undertake this training, or to provide evidence that they have done equivalent training. The removal of asbestos would be part of the minimum outcome of the Palace Restoration and Renewal Programme and is therefore addressed in all the scenarios that are described in the recent Independent Options Appraisal.

Spencer Perceval

Lord Butler of Brockwell: To ask the Chairman of Committees why the mispatterned tile which was a memorial of the spot where Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated has been removed from St Stephen's Hall; and whether it can be replaced.

Lord Sewel: The tiles in St Stephen’s Hall were not in a special pattern to mark the spot of Spencer Perceval’s assassination as some have suggested; they were poor repairs done after the original tiles were damaged during the Second World War. A plaque has been erected in St Stephen’s Hall near the spot where Spencer Perceval was assassinated.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Young People

Lord Smith of Clifton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for the latest year for which figures relating to 18 to 21 year-olds in England, (1) how many claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (a) in the first six months of the year, and (b) in total; (2) how many claimed Employment and Support Allowance, and of those, what proportion became part of the work-related activity group; and (3) how many entered the Work Programme.

Lord Freud: The information requested regarding part (1), how many claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (a) in the first six months of the year, and (b) in total, is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. There were 38,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand) claims made to ESA by 18-21 year-olds in England during the business year 2013-14, of whom 2,000 (6%) were assigned to the work-related activity group. Between April 2014 and March 2015 there were 24,660 18 to 21 year-olds, in England, referred to the Work Programme. Please note this is rounded to the nearest ten and referrals are 'net' referrals which do not include rejections, cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Birds

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what process there is to establish a national bird of the United Kingdom, and what plans they have, if any, to make the robin the national bird.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The robin is synonymous with the British countryside and I am delighted that it has been voted as Britain’s favourite bird, however, there are no plans to adopt it as the national bird.

Rights of Way

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 15 June (HL171), when they expect to put in place the secondary legislation and guidance needed to make the relevant provisions concerning footpaths and bridleways.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The target timetable for the whole rights of way reforms package to be brought into effect is April 2016.

Whales: Japan

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Japan about that government's intention to resume whaling in the Antarctic.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK Government regularly makes representations to the Government of Japan to set out our opposition to special permit whaling for “scientific purposes”. Most recently, the UK Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) reiterated the Government’s concerns, including in relation to Japan’s proposals to resume whaling in the Antarctic, at a meeting with the Japanese Commissioner to the IWC in May 2015, and officials from the Japanese Embassy in March 2015. The Minister of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment, George Eustice, attended the IWC meeting in September 2014, where he underlined the Government’s continued opposition to commercial whaling.We will continue to make our concerns known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity, including in light of the recently published advice of the IWC Scientific Committee, which has examined Japan’s latest proposals.

Thames Tideway Tunnel

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis they determined that providing information regarding the Thames Tideway Tunnel, including the number of tenders received, and the extent of the Government's Pre-Funded Risk Reserve, would prejudice the commercial interests of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and therefore fell under the exemption in section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: We have responded to a Freedom of Information request for this information and the individual concerned has requested an internal review of our response. When this review is complete the individual will be informed of its outcome, including the reasons why any particular exemptions applied.   Thames Water Utilities Ltd (TWUL) is conducting this procurement under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 which includes an obligation on the procuring authority to protect the confidentiality of bidders. Defra is also subject to a non-disclosure agreement with TWUL in relation to confidential information it has shared with Defra about this procurement. Revealing information on this procurement while it remains live other than as required by these Regulations would, or would be likely to, harm the commercial interests of both TWUL and the Government.   TWUL will release appropriate details at the Preferred Bidder stage and Ofwat will consult on granting a project licence to the Preferred Bidder before Licence Award. In addition we will inform Parliament of the outcome of the procurement including relevant details once the procurement is complete. At this point the contract award notice will also be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what commercial interests the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has that are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Freedom of Information Act provides an exception under Section 43 allowing commercially sensitive information to be withheld. Use of this exception is considered and applied as appropriate on a case-by-case basis.

Fracking: Regulation

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how responsibility for the regulation of fracking is divided between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) leads on energy policy including hydraulic fracturing for shale gas and oil. Defra is responsible for the environmental aspects of shale gas and oil policy, with the exception of climate change and seismicity issues which are a DECC lead.   Defra’s responsibility extends to England only as environmental policy is a devolved matter. The Environment Agency is the environmental regulator in England which is responsible for issuing environmental permits to ensure that operations are undertaken in a way which protects people and the environment.

National Parks Authorities

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to hold elections for the membership of National Park Authorities.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Following careful consideration of proposals developed by the coalition Government to introduce elections to national park and the Broads authorities, the Government does not intend to bring forward the legislation necessary to enable elections to be held. Local communities are already well represented on the boards of the authorities.

Home Office

Habitual Residence Test

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the habitual residence test introduced in 2014 does not exclude victims of human trafficking who are nationals of European Economic Area countries from accessing Jobseeker's Allowance.

Lord Bates: The habitual residence test is critical to the integrity of the benefits system. To be eligible for income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance, EEA migrants must be habitually resident in the UK and provide evidence that they have been living here in the three month period prior to their benefit claim.Victims of modern slavery are eligible for support through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), including accommodation, for at least 45 days. In many cases victims receive support for a longer period and are likely to be able to provide evidence that they meet the habitual residence test when they exit NRM support. The Home Office and DWP are working together to make it easier for those victims whose circumstances make it difficult to provide such evidence to do so.EEA Nationals who are identified as victims of human trafficking through the NRM may qualify for discretionary leave where, for instance, they are helping police with an investigation or where their personal circumstances are such that it would be detrimental for the individual to leave the UK. EEA Nationals granted discretionary leave for those reasons would be exempt from the habitual residence test.

Human Trafficking

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each financial year from 2009–10 to date, how many victims of trafficking who are nationals of European Economic Area countries have (1) applied for discretionary leave to remain, (2) been granted discretionary leave to remain, and (3) been refused discretionary leave to remain.

Lord Bates: It is considered that disproportionate cost are applicable to aspects (1) and (3) of this PQ as there are no means, other than manual , to gather the necessary statistical information to provide an accurate figure for disclosure.In reference to aspect (2) Her Majesty’s Government provides the following statistical data in financial years as requested:YearNumbers of people granted discretionary leave  2009/2010132010/2011132011/2012112012/201382013/201492014/201530

Raif Badawi

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to follow the government of Canada in offering asylum to Raif Badawi.

Lord Bates: The United Kingdom has a proud tradition of providing protection to those who need it and we will continue to fulfil our responsibilities to those who arrive in the UK and claim asylum.However to be eligible for international protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention, a person must be located outside their country of origin. We cannot undertake to consider granting asylum to individuals or groups of people abroad and it is not our practice to grant visas for the purpose of seeking asylum. It is understood that Mr Badawi’s wife and children have been given asylum in Canada.

Immigrants: Tuberculosis

Baroness Suttie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on screening for tuberculosis in reception centres for migrants arriving in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: All detainees are seen by a nurse within 2 hours of arrival at an immigration removal centre for a health screening. The purpose of the initial health assessment is to identify any immediate and significant mental or physical health needs, the presence of a communicable disease and whether the individual may have been the victim of torture.The individual will be referred straight away to a GP if the nurse feels an issue has been identified which requires immediate attention. Otherwise detainees are given an appointment to see the GP within 24 hours.

Deportation

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their policy of returning migrants to their countries of origin excludes for humanitarian reasons certain countries of origin; and if so, which countries.

Lord Bates: Her Majesty's Government believes that the right approach is to consider the protection needs of individuals on an individual basis, and does not adopt a blanket approach to any one country.Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our international obligations and taking full account of conditions in the country concerned as they impact on the individual. Those found to be in need of international protection are provided with it. Those who have been found by the Home Office and the appeals process not to be in need of international protection and have no legal basis of stay in the UK are expected to return to their country of origin and may have their removal enforced.

Asylum

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom accepts a responsibility to grant asylum to refugees fleeing countries where in the last 10 years British military forces have been involved; and if not, why not.

Lord Bates: The United Kingdom has a proud tradition of providing protection to those who need it and we fulfil our responsibilities to all who claim asylum in the UK, irrespective of whether British military forces have previously been engaged in the country of origin.

Refugees

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated average cost, including any state benefits, of accepting a refugee into the United Kingdom in the first year.

Lord Bates: We do not hold the data in a format which would allow us to answer the question and we have estimated that to obtain the necessary information would incur disproportionate cost

Refugees: Mediterranean Sea

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to realise the Prime Minister's aim stated on 3 June, that "we need to break the link between getting on a boat and achieving residence in Europe" (HC Deb, col 583).

Lord Bates: The perceived likelihood of illegal immigrants being able to remain in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean plays into the hands of the criminal gangs who are exploiting them. While the Government remains committed to saving lives at sea, it is clear that this link needs to be broken if the EU is to tackle the current situation successfully. That can be achieved only through concerted EU and international action, ensuring that Member States’ asylum systems are not exploited by people smugglers and traffickers or by economic migrants, and that those found not to be in need of protection are swiftly removed.Ministers and officials are working closely with our counterparts in other European States and EU institutions to try to break this link, focusing on four key areas: conditions in migrants’ country of origin; availability of protection and economic opportunities in the region; tackling the criminal gangs; and ensuring the return of those who do not need to remain in the EU.The UK is playing a leading role in practical EU efforts, including the development of joint work in transit and origin countries to combat people smugglers and traffickers and to enhance protection for those who genuinely require it.

Former Prime Ministers: Security

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest available figures of the cost of providing police and other security protection for former prime ministers and deputy prime ministers.

Lord Bates: It is Home Office policy not to comment upon matters of personal protective security and their associated costs. Disclosure of such information could compromise the integrity of those arrangements and affect the security of the individuals concerned.

Cannabis

Lord Fearn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what legislation governs the use of cannabis in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 controls the possession, possession with intent to supply, supply, production, cultivation and importation and exportation of cannabis. Cannabis is a Class B drug, and a Schedule 1 substance under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.The 1971 Act also makes it unlawful for an occupier or manager of a premises to permit or suffer the consumption, production and supply of cannabis.A new offence created by the Crime and Courts Act 2013 makes it illegal to drive with one (or more) specified drugs in the body above a specified limit. The new offence came into force on 2 March 2015.

HM Treasury

Health Services: Tax Allowances

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why private healthcare companies can claim tax relief on drug purchases but equivalents in the National Health Service cannot.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The supply of drugs is subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT) at the standard rate (20 per cent); however, no VAT is charged on drugs that are supplied on prescription and dispensed by a pharmacist.   Healthcare businesses, like high street pharmacies, supply drugs at the VAT zero rate where the pharmacist dispenses drugs on prescription direct to a patient. This includes NHS prescriptions and where drugs are delivered to patients’ homes. Any VAT incurred on the drugs would be recoverable by the pharmacy or the healthcare business.

NHS: VAT

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place to compensate the National Health Service for irrecoverable VAT.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: NHS bodies are compensated for irrecoverable VAT in two ways. Firstly as a part of the upfront public funding for healthcare, and secondly through a special scheme in section 41(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 that refunds VAT on certain contracted out services.

Loans: Direct Selling

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Financial Conduct Authority's consultation on telemarketing of payday loans, announced on 26 November 2014 during the passage of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (HL Deb, col 913), will take place.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The Financial Conduct Authority has committed to undertake a consultation on unsolicited marketing calls, emails and text messages from consumer credit firms, including payday lenders. This will take place in the summer. The consultation will include specifically looking at whether these unsolicited communications should be banned, given the potential for causing significant distress to consumers.   The FCA requires that cold calling by phone, text or email makes both the identity of the firm clear, as well as the purpose of the communication, so the consumer can decide whether to proceed.

Budgets: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the budget passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 15 June.

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the budget passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 15 June is consistent with their guidelines to devolved administrations.

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take in the event that the spending of Northern Ireland Departments, detailed in the budget passed on 15 June, is greater than the income received by the Assembly in the current financial year.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: I refer the noble Lord to the written answer (HL321) that I gave to him on 22 June 2015. It is vital that all parties to the Stormont House Agreement live up to the commitments they entered into in December, including on welfare reform, and in doing so that they also ensure that the Northern Ireland Executive’s 2015-16 budget does not exceed the resources available to it.

Budgets: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place between Treasury Ministers and other Ministers concerning the legitimacy of the budget passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 15 June.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with other Government Ministers across a wide range of Government business. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury also discussed the Northern Ireland Executive’s current budgetary position with the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel on 17 June.

Cabinet Office

Privy Council

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the size of the Privy Council was on (1) 6 February 1952, and (2) 15 June 2015; and how many new members have been appointed since 7 May 2010.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The information is set out in the table below. DateNumber of Privy Counsellors6th February 195228115th June 2015657Appointments since 7th May 2010170

Sovereignty: Scotland

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of recent statements by the Scottish National Party seeking further devolution of powers, whether they plan to arrange a referendum in England on whether to maintain the union with Scotland.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The Government has no such plans.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Gambling

Lord Chadlington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current level of gambling addiction in the United Kingdom, and the comparable figure from before the coming into force of the Gambling Act 2005.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The England and Scotland Health Surveys and the British Gambling Prevalence Surveys contain data on problem gambling levels going back to 1999. The approach and methodology for these different surveys are broadly comparable and show that there has been very little significant change in the levels of problem gambling since 1999, with current levels at around 0.5% of the adult population compared to 0.8% in 1999. Nevertheless the Government remains determined to tackle problem gambling and is working with the Gambling Commission and the industry to improve measures to prevent harm.

Gambling: Advertising

Lord Chadlington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to prevent advertising related to gambling on television before the watershed.

Lord Chadlington: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to prevent advertising related to gambling offering "free bets" and "free money".

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The previous Government initiated a review of gambling advertising including "free bets" and "free money" last year. Televised gambling advertising in the UK is governed by the Advertising Codes which are maintained by the Broadcast Committee for Advertising Practice. This is supplemented by a self-regulatory industry code, the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Gambling. The Industry Code includes a 9pm television watershed for all gambling advertising, with exceptions for bingo, lotteries and the advertising of sports betting around televised sporting events.

Department of Health

Insomnia

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to increase the availability of therapy for insomnia patients.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) has produced a Clinical Knowledge Summary (CKS) to support clinicians in the management of both short-term and long-term insomnia. The choice of management strategy will depend upon certain considerations, such as the duration and nature of the presenting symptoms as well the role of any pre-existing medical conditions a patient may have. Advice on appropriate routines and behaviours to encourage good sleep, such as avoiding coffee and other stimulants, should also be a key element to the overall strategy.   Pharmacological interventions should only be prescribed for short durations and usually only when daytime impairment is severe. The guidance makes clear that for patients suffering from insomnia for over four weeks a referral to a cognitive behavioural therapy service should be considered. Where symptoms persist the guidance recommends referral to a sleep clinic or specialist with expertise in sleep medicine. The NICE CKS can be found at:   http://cks.nice.org.uk/insomnia   This information is only available as a web link.

Multiple Births

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Health Service's Sign up to Safety Campaign will aim to reduce the higher-than-average proportion of multiple pregnancies that result in a still birth, neonatal death or clinical negligence claim.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHS LA) has supported the campaign by managing incentive scheme bids to reduce harm and subsequent claims. Whilst there are no bids received specific to multiple pregnancies the NHS LA has awarded over £8 million across 25 successful maternity bids. This funding is aimed at supporting the reduction of claims relating to stillbirth and birth injury for all pregnancies and will include multiple births.

Multiple Births

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to issue advice to commissioners, regulators and providers about tackling the disproportionately high rates of still birth and neonatal death in multiple pregnancies.

Lord Prior of Brampton: We have made reducing stillbirth an improvement area for the National Health Service in the NHS Outcomes Framework. The Department is working with key partners, including NHS England, Public Health England, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The Royal College of Midwives and the stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands, to identify and drive forward the actions required to help reduce further the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rate in England.   Evidence based advice on the care of women with multiple pregnancies is set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Guidelines ‘Multiple Pregnancies – The management of twin and triplet pregnancies in the antenatal period’ which is attached. In line with these guidelines, we would expect clinical care for women with twin and triplet pregnancies to be provided by a nominated multidisciplinary team consisting of a core team, including named specialist obstetricians, who have experience and knowledge of managing twin and triplet pregnancies. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of the NICE guidelines. It is for local maternity care providers to determine how best to deliver services for women with multiple pregnancies in their area. In doing so we would expect them to give due regard to NICE guidance.   NHS England is undertaking a major review of the commissioning of NHS maternity services, in line with commitments made in the NHS Five Year Forward View. The review will assess current maternity care provision and consider how services should be developed to meet the changing needs of women and babies. This review is expected to report by the end of the year. 



NICE - Multiple Pregancies
(PDF Document, 178.01 KB)

Tuberculosis

Baroness Suttie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recommendations of the most recent collaborative tuberculosis strategy for England, whether they have put in place provisions for screening and treating latent tuberculosis in vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Collaborative Tuberculosis (TB) Strategy for England, which is attached, recommends ten key areas of action, including tackling TB in underserved groups and to systematically implement new entrant latent TB screening. The systematic screening and treatment of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is therefore expected to significantly decrease the incidence of TB in England. LTBI screening for new entrants from TB high incidence areas is an effective and cost effective public health intervention1 and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The NICE Tuberculosis guideline is attached. LTBI testing and treatment for other vulnerable groups, such as prisoners and substance abusers is more complex and requires an individualised patient-centred approach to ensure arrangements to assist with subsequent treatment completion are robust. Whilst the Collaborative Strategy supports current NICE recommendations, including the expansion of active case finding and available support for these underserved populations, arrangements for LTBI testing among these groups will be a carefully balanced decision for local health services. Notes: Pareek M, Watson JP, Ormerod LP, Kon OM, Woltmann G, White PJ, et al. Screening of immigrants in the United Kingdom for imported latent tuberculosis: a multicentre cohort study and cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011 Jun;11(6):435–44. 



Collaborative TB Strategy
(PDF Document, 1.52 MB)




NICE Tuberculosis Guidelines
(PDF Document, 319.74 KB)

Asthma: Drugs

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients with asthma receive the right medication.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The NHS mandate for 2015-16 says that every patient with a long-term condition, including asthma and other respiratory conditions, should be offered a personalised care action plan. They and their families or carers should know the right medications to use at the right times and how to use them, and to understand the importance of monitoring their condition and how to do this.

Health: Finance

Baroness Pinnock: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will provide details of which local authorities are going to be asked to cut their public health budgets.

Baroness Pinnock: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to work with local authorities to ensure that cuts in local public health budgets do not adversely affect services that help to prevent emergency hospital admissions.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Department will shortly publish a consultation on how best to implement these savings in ways that minimise any impact on services.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take in the event of the Clinical Commissioning Groups outsourcing parts of their commissioning role to get round the restrictions on administrative costs.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, when Clinical Commissioning Groups outsource some of their commissioning role to integrators, lead providers or through other similar mechanisms, how the administrative costs so transferred will be counted against the Clinical Commissioning Groups' administrative cost cap.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, when Clinical Commissioning Groups outsource some of their commissioning role, the element of administration that would have counted towards the fixed cap on administrative costs will be separately identified and appropriately deducted from Clinical Commissioning Group budgets.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), as independent statutory bodies, can choose how best to carry out their commissioning functions from within their running cost budget.   Where CCGs choose to outsource their support and to buy from external providers, this funding will be charged against their fixed running cost allowance.   Service integrators and lead providers co-ordinate and provide care for patients; they are not commissioners, nor do they undertake commissioning activities or responsibilities.